Cover
Café Puente
OUR VOICE
CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION IN PETALUMA
SPRING 2026
EDITION 02
LIDIA CALVA
FROM SHYNESS TO THE STAGE
GYSELLE ALEJANDRO
BECOMING MYSELF AGAIN
Page 01 – Letter to the Community
Dear community,
In times when many immigrant families face uncertainty, changes, and challenges, at Café Puente we reaffirm our commitment to being a space where all people feel safe, supported, and valued. We know that arriving in a new country means starting over, and that is why we work every day to build a place where no one walks alone.
Our programs are born from the deep desire to walk alongside families on their journey. And our Cultural Markets are a living example of this: a space where immigrant entrepreneurs can share their talents, strengthen their economic stability, and feel seen and celebrated.
We are inspired to see how the community supports one another, how doors open, and how dreams flourish when there is a place that believes in them. Thank you for trusting us, for walking together, and for allowing us to be part of your story.
With gratitude and care,
The Café Puente Team
Page 04
BETWEEN LANGUAGES, DREAMS, AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS:
THE STORY OF RAÚL AND ERIK AT CAFÉ PUENTE
In the midst of the challenges of migration, cultural adaptation, and learning a new language, hundreds of Latino youth look for spaces where they can feel supported. Café Puente has become one of those places. Raúl, 18 years old and originally from San Martín, Peru, and Erik, also 18 and from Michoacán, Mexico, share different stories, but they are united by the same feeling: here they found community, support, and a new way to integrate into life in the United States.
A space that brings newcomers together
For Raúl, who considers himself introverted, Café Puente has become a doorway to new relationships. “It has felt like a very united community… I think it’s great that it can bring together people who didn’t know each other before or didn’t greet each other so they can become friends,” he explains. Erik agrees. His impression has been just as positive: “I thought it was really great because it’s a very united community… they make anyone who comes in here feel welcome and treat people very well. I think it’s a very enjoyable place.”
Both young men highlight that at Café Puente, the activities, games, and gathering spaces encourage friendship and a sense of belonging.
The impact
Raúl, recently arrived in Casa Grande, admits that at first he did not talk much with many of his classmates. However, he recognizes that Café Puente opened small doors: “Now I’ve started talking with some boys who come here… before I didn’t approach them.” Although he still feels introverted, simply crossing paths with other youth outside of school has allowed him to expand his social circle. Erik, for his part, describes an even more noticeable change: “It helped me improve socially and open up more with people, especially socialize.” For him, what he learns at Café Puente is reflected directly in his attitude at school.
Page 05 – Between Languages, Dreams, and New Friendships
A shared obstacle
Both Raúl and Erik face the same challenge: language. Raúl explains that English was his biggest difficulty when he arrived: “It was more because of embarrassment… because of what people might say.” Although he now feels more confident, he admits the beginning was hard. Even so, he says he adapted quickly and that his teachers have supported him a lot by using simpler words and taking the time to explain things to him.
Erik shares a similar experience: “English… is a language I still don’t master 100%. I’m just learning it.” Sometimes, the fact that his classmates do not know he is an immigrant or that he does not yet fully master the language can cause problems for him. Even so, he proudly says that he is doing very well in school.
Efforts that are shaping their future
Both Raúl and Erik share an essential trait: a deep dedication to learning a new language and moving forward in their academic path. Raúl lives with his mother in the United States. He is the youngest of four siblings, but all the others remain in Peru. He wants to study Business Administration. He dreams of managing a company or even founding one himself.
Erik is also working on improving his English while succeeding in his studies, with a clear goal: medicine. “I want to specialize in cardiology,” he says without hesitation. He knows that mastering the language is a key tool to reaching that goal. His dedication has led him to become the first person in his family to reach this educational level, an achievement he carries with pride and enthusiasm.
Both young men represent the effort, perseverance, and resilience that characterize many immigrant students. Their journey is only beginning, but they already show that with determination and community support, they can go as far as they set their minds to.
The role of Café Puente in their goals
Both young men agree that Café Puente can play an important role in their future.
Raúl believes that attending the program could help him express himself better and talk with more people, something that will serve him both in college and in his work life.
Erik, on the other hand, sees the space as a way to learn from different cultures and broaden his view of the world: “That could maybe help me in the future with some of my goals.”
Page 07 – Mamás Unidas
MAMÁS UNIDAS
A space of support and connection for Latina mothers
The story of Mamás Unidas begins with Kimberly, a young mother who dreamed of a place where she could share experiences and feel supported by other Latina women. From that longing, this program was born: a support network that celebrates the strength, diversity, and unity of our community.
More than a group, Mamás Unidas is a safe space dedicated exclusively to mothers. Here they can talk, advise one another, laugh, and simply be themselves, without the pressure of children or daily responsibilities. It is a place to reconnect with their identity, strengthen bonds, and discover the inspiration that comes from walking together.
Meetings take place twice a month, on the second and third Friday, from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening. They are gatherings designed so that each mother can enjoy a warm and enriching environment created especially for them.
Mamás Unidas is not just a program: it is a circle of trust, a reminder that no mother is alone, and that together we can create the community we have always longed for.
Page 08 – From Shyness to the Stage
FROM SHYNESS TO THE STAGE:
A STORY THAT BEATS STRONG
DANCING TO HEAL: MOVEMENT, JOY, AND CONNECTION
TESTIMONY OF LIDIA CALVA
The beginning
“When I saw him dance, his little face changed…”
That is how Lidia Calva Díaz begins telling the story of her son Emir, a sensitive, shy child full of energy who found in Café Puente’s Latidos program much more than an activity: he found freedom, confidence, and community.
Lidia came to Café Puente looking for spaces where Emir could play and socialize. “He was always with me. If we went somewhere, he had to be by my side. He even asked me for permission to play.” For years, Emir avoided preschool and other group settings. But everything changed when they discovered Latidos, a community dance program designed so that children can express themselves through movement.
The change
At first, Emir cried in class. “He had a really hard time with change. He needed to know exactly what was going to happen.” But little by little, rhythm began to open doors for him. “When I saw him dance, his little face changed. He could jump, shout, move… and he felt free. Without fear.”
The transformation was obvious. “My friends, his teachers, everyone has told me he has changed so much.” Emir began participating with enthusiasm, recognizing songs on the radio, and repeating the steps at home. “Now he says, ‘I can do it!’ and jumps in with his friends.”
In addition to emotional confidence, Lidia noticed physical benefits: more energy, better posture, and a constant smile. “He comes with so much energy, smiling and happy. He always talks to me. Sometimes we hear a song on the radio and he says, ‘We dance that one!’”
Page 09 – From Shyness to the Stage
The message for other families
Lidia has a clear message for other mothers with shy children or children facing emotional difficulties: “Bring them. Even if they cry at first, even if it seems hard, it’s worth it. Music and dance help them feel alive, express themselves, and be themselves.”
She remembers that at first she was afraid. “They told me he might have some kind of disability, and I got scared. But I decided to bring him and see if he liked it. And I think that helped him a lot to gain confidence.”
Her advice is loving and firm: “Even if you think others are judging us, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy your children. There will come a moment when you will feel the music, the adrenaline, the rhythm, the desire to dance.”
Rhythm is also for me
Inspired by her son’s experience, Lidia also felt encouraged to participate in the Latin rhythms classes for adults offered by Latidos. “When I come, I forget everything. If I make a mistake, I make a mistake, but I try to move and feel the music. I relax.”
For her, dance has become a space for self-care and joy. “It’s a moment for me, to enjoy, to feel alive.”
What Latidos means
For Lidia and Emir, Latidos is more than a dance program. It is a safe, inclusive space full of joy. A place where mothers and children can share, heal, and grow together. Latidos organizes annual events where all participants can show and celebrate their growth, sharing, dancing, and enjoying community together.
Emir is one of our dancers. “Seeing him dance in front of an audience for the first time, when before he didn’t dare… that fills my heart. Latidos has given us confidence, community, and a new way of being ourselves.”
Page 10 – Becoming Myself Again
BECOMING MYSELF AGAIN:
THE STORY OF GYSELLE AND THE HOME SHE FOUND AT CAFÉ PUENTE
For those who already know Gyselle, you know that her smile and warmth make every person who walks into Café Puente feel welcome. She was born and raised in Cancún, the daughter of a mother from Yucatán and a father from Tabasco, and she is the oldest of four siblings.
Her journey to Petaluma was not easy. Like many people who migrate, she arrived in the United States carrying dreams, responsibilities, and a sacrifice that is rarely named: leaving behind family, friends, and the places that shape a person’s identity.
“When I arrived, I was not prepared for what it means to migrate,” she remembers. “I went through a very intense depression. I woke up crying, I went to sleep crying. I missed my parents, my siblings, the parties, the hugs… everything.”
Her decision was shaped by the lack of professional opportunities and by the desire to help her family financially. That double grief—the pain of missing home and the challenge of surviving in a new country—made her first years “a very dark time.”
Finding a path back to herself
Little by little, she dared to try new things. She met her husband and decided to look for a job where she could be herself. She began working at Grand Central Petaluma—and that was where she met Emilie, the founder of Café Puente.
What she did not know at the time was that this small step outside her comfort zone would open the door to a community that would change her life: Café Puente. “Getting to know Café Puente was a before and after,” she says with a soft smile. “Here I started to feel that I had a community. I started to feel at home.”
“Café Puente is my version of home,” she explains. “Here I met friends. I met people who genuinely wanted to know how I was doing. And that changed me.”
Healing the voice that had been hidden
Before migrating, Gyselle already carried wounds from her teenage years marked by bullying and the feeling of not having a voice. “I didn’t love myself,” she says with moving honesty. “I didn’t say what I felt because I thought no one wanted to hear it.”
Page 11 – Becoming Myself Again
But at Café Puente she found the opposite: people who listened to her, who valued her ideas, who were happy with her presence. “It was like a flower that had wilted,” she says, “and suddenly it began to grow.”
Through Raíces, Puentecitos, and Puentistas, she not only found a space of belonging: she found the strength to believe in herself again. The older adults in Raíces told her they missed her when she was not there, that they felt good with her. Her teammates encouraged her to share ideas, propose activities, and lead. “It helped me reconnect with the person I had hidden for many years,” she shares.
Today, Gyselle is the Program Manager, a fundamental part of the Café Puente team. Her joy, warmth, ability to make everyone feel welcome, and pride in her Latin identity can be felt in every group she coordinates, every conversation, and every song she plays at a community gathering.
A collective dream: creating a safe place for everyone
When we ask what she dreams for Café Puente, she speaks with emotion: “I want more people to have a safe place. I want more people to find their community. I want Café Puente to reach more hearts. I want there to be more programs, more spaces, more Café Puentes all across the United States.”
She says she wants every person who comes here to remember who they are and where they come from. That no one should feel ashamed of speaking Spanish, listening to Latin music, laughing loudly, dancing, or carrying a piece of their country with them. “The best thing you can do is never forget who you are,” she says. “And Café Puente helps you feel proud of that.”
A space to feel joy again
In the end, when she thinks about what impacts her most about Café Puente, she does not mention a single moment. She speaks of many. Of people who arrive in pain and find comfort. Of youth looking for direction. Of parents carrying worries. Of families who arrive alone in this country and find here a network that sustains them.
“Every story contributes to Café Puente,” she says. “Every person brings something that helps someone else. It’s like a chain of stories.”
And in that chain, Gyselle’s story shines. Not only because it reflects the struggle and resilience of so many young migrants, but also because it shows what is possible when a person finds a place where they can be seen, heard, and celebrated.
“Café Puente helped me become myself again,” she says. “And I want more people to feel that too.”
Page 12 – Mercadito Cultural
CULTURAL MARKET
11:00 AM–3:00 PM
May–August 2026
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
LOCAL LATINO VENDORS | 2ND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH
Page 13 – Mercaditos Culturales
Café Puente supports and celebrates our local entrepreneurs, creating spaces where their talents can flourish.
We are committed to the growth of our entrepreneurial community, creating opportunities for their businesses to move forward, strengthen their economic stability, and be seen.
Our Cultural Markets are for entrepreneurs... and also for families.
At 11:00 AM we invite you to Story Hour, a Puentecitos activity where teacher Daniela reads stories, sings, and dances with the children.
If you would like to join as a vendor, scan the code and complete your registration.
REGISTRATION FOR LATINO VENDORS
Page 15 – Latidos
LATIDOS
Urban Dances: Children and Youth
Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue: Adults 18+
Move your body, free your mind, and reconnect with joy.
Weekly schedule
Monday
Urban Dances I — 4:30 PM (ages 4–6)
Urban Dances III — 5:15 PM (ages 12+)Wednesday
Bachata and Merengue — 7:00 PM (ages 18+)Thursday
Salsa — 7:00 PM (ages 18+)Friday
Urban Dances II — 4:00 PM (ages 7–11)
Our classes are an invitation to care for your physical and emotional health while sharing with others.
You do not need experience—just the desire to feel the rhythm and let yourself go.
Page 16 – Puentecitos and Puentistas
PUENTECITOS
Playgroup, Stories with Rhythm, Story Hour
Community, stories, and culture for children ages 0–5 and their families
Weekly schedule
Tuesday
Playgroup — 10:30 AMWednesday
Stories with Rhythm — 10:00 AM
third week of the monthThursday
Playgroup — 10:30 AMSaturday
Story Hour — 11:00 AM
PUENTISTAS: FOR YOUTH 15+
1st and 3rd Friday of the month, 6:00–8:00 PM
Community and culture for Latino youth ages 15 and up.
Page 17 – Connect with Café Puente
CONNECT WITH CAFÉ PUENTE
Discover more, participate, and stay close to our community.
Scan the QR codes to access two key resources:
We launched our app!
Café Puente takes a big step into the future!
We are happy to share with you the launch of our very own app: a tool created for you, your family, and our entire community.
From now on, you can:
Sign up for your favorite programs
Receive reminders and news
See your activities all in one place
Participate in events and raffles
And much more!
Scan the QR code to download it and be part of this new stage. We want everyone to have it on their phone! It is easy to use and made with love for you.
Would you like to receive reminders, news, and important messages?
Join our official WhatsApp group and stay up to date with what is happening at Café Puente. Scan the code to join the group.
Your participation strengthens families, celebrates our roots, and builds community.
Thank you for being here.
Page 18 – Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
Cultural Markets
11:00 AM–3:00 PM
A monthly market that supports our local entrepreneurs and offers families a safe, cultural, and lively space.
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
Like everything at Café Puente, events are free and in Spanish.
Page 19 – Upcoming Events
LATIDOS ANNIVERSARY:
DREAMS THAT DANCE
June 6
5:00–8:00 PM
LATIDOS celebrates its first year with an event full of emotion, gratitude, and movement. Our students will share choreographies that reflect their growth, dedication, and the dreams that have been taking shape along the way.
Dreams That Dance is an invitation to celebrate this first chapter together: a space where dance becomes joy and community. A reminder of what happens when we move together.
Open to the public. Everyone is welcome.
Page 20 – Cultural Markets
CULTURAL MARKETS
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
LOCAL LATINO VENDORS | SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH
At Café Puente we believe in the power of community entrepreneurship. Our Cultural Markets create opportunities for Latino vendors to share their products, strengthen their businesses, and connect with the community.
These markets are spaces where culture, creativity, and economic opportunity come together.
Families can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere while supporting local Latino entrepreneurs and celebrating the richness of our cultures.
Page 21 – Cultural Markets (continued)
Café Puente supports and celebrates our local entrepreneurs by creating spaces where their talents can flourish.
We are committed to the growth of our entrepreneurial community by creating opportunities for their businesses to move forward, strengthen their economic stability, and become more visible.
Our Cultural Markets are designed not only for entrepreneurs, but also for families.
At 11:00 AM we invite you to join Story Hour, a Puentecitos activity where teacher Daniela reads stories, sings, and dances with the children.
If you would like to participate as a vendor, scan the code and complete your registration.
REGISTRATION FOR LATINO VENDORS
Page 23 – Programs
OUR PROGRAMS
Café Puente offers free programs in Spanish designed to strengthen community, celebrate Latin cultures, and support families at every stage of life.
Latidos
Dance classes for children, youth, and adults that celebrate culture through movement and expression.
Puentecitos
Playgroups, stories, and music for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers.
Puentistas
A community and leadership space for Latino youth ages 15 and up.
Raíces
A wellness and connection program for older Latino adults.
Each program is designed to create belonging, joy, and opportunities for connection within our community.
Page 24 – Café Puente App & Community Connection
CONNECT WITH CAFÉ PUENTE
Discover more, participate, and stay close to our community.
Scan the QR codes to access two key resources.
We launched our app!
Café Puente takes a big step toward the future.
We are excited to share the launch of our official app — a tool designed for you, your family, and our entire community.
With the app you can:
• Register for your favorite programs
• Receive reminders and updates
• View your activities in one place
• Participate in events and raffles
• And much more
Download it and be part of this new chapter. It is easy to use and created with love for our community.
Join our WhatsApp community
Would you like to receive reminders, news, and important messages?
Join our official WhatsApp group and stay connected with everything happening at Café Puente.
Your participation strengthens families, celebrates our roots, and helps build community.
Thank you for being here.
Page 25 – Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
Cultural Markets
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
A monthly market that supports our local entrepreneurs and offers families a welcoming and cultural gathering space.
May 9
June 13
July 11
August 8
All Café Puente events are free and held in Spanish.
Page 26 – Latidos Anniversary Event
LATIDOS ANNIVERSARY
DREAMS THAT DANCE
June 6
5:00 – 8:00 PM
LATIDOS celebrates its first anniversary with an event full of emotion, gratitude, and movement.
Our students will present choreographies that reflect their growth, dedication, and the dreams that have been taking shape along the way.
Dreams That Dance is an invitation to celebrate together — a space where dance becomes joy, pride, and community.
Everyone is welcome.
Page 27 – Sponsors
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Your support makes possible every step we take as a community.
Thanks to the generosity of our partners, donors, and volunteers, Café Puente can continue offering programs that celebrate culture, strengthen families, and build community in Petaluma.
Back Cover
OUR VOICE
CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION IN PETALUMA
SPRING 2026
EDITION 02